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Resulting in tlie Defeat of the Hessians and 

the Destruction of flie British Frigate 

Augusta. Oct. 22 and 23, 1777 




Member of the New Jersey Historical Society and 
Director of the Gloucester Historical Society 



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Resulting in ^e Defeat of ^e Hessians and flie Destruction 
of His Britannic Majesty's Frigate Augusta 



Much interest has been manifested by the Daughters of 
the American Revohition in the history of the British Frigate 
Augusta. To meet this, at the request of Miss Ellen Mecum, 
State Regent for New Jersey, the writer has prepared the 
following paper. It was originally given before the Glou- 
cester County, N. J., Historical Society in July, 1905, at the 
Whitall Mansion in Red Bank, where the wounded Con- 
tinental and Hessian soldiers were cared for by Ann Whitall, 
after whom the Chapter in Woodbury, N. J., is named. 
There, in full view of the spot where the Augusta was 
grounded, fought and blew up, within sight of Fort Mifflin 
on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, where the 
most sanguinary and stubbornly contested siege in the Revolu- 
tionary War took place, within cannon shot of the battlefield 
around Fort Mercer on the Jersey side where Col. Chris- 
topher Greene, with four hundred recruits from Rhode Island, 
utterly defeated twenty-five hundred Hessians under Count 
Donop — at this historic spot, now a national park, this paper 
was first made public. 

Since that time many pilgrimages have been made to 
Gloucester City, N. J., to see the remains of this unfortunate 
man-of-war, now ignobly stranded on the beach, and many 



2 The BATTI.E OF Red Bank. 

relics and mementoes have been taken away by seekers after 
antique and historic treasures. But best of all, through the 
co-operation of Miss Ellen Mecum, State Regent, and Miss 
Ellen Learning Matlock, Regent of the Ann Whitall Chapter, 
enough of the timber from this old frigate, which has lain 
in the waters of the Delaware River for over one hundred 
and thirty years, has been gathered and preserved to make 
all the wood-work (except the floor), as well as the fur- 
niture, which adorns the New Jersey Room in Memorial 
Continental Hall, Washington, D. C. 

The article as given originally has been somewhat con- 
densed, but still retains the essential portions, with much 
additional data which has come to the writer more recently. 
Every statement made herein is supported by English and 
American authorities. 

Many facts hitherto unknown in this country were cour- 
teously communicated to the writer by the British Admiralty 
in reply to his inquiries. From this official document it is 
learned that His Britannic Majesty's ship Augusta was built 
at Rotherhithe, in the year of our Lord 1763, which was the 
third year of the reign of King George HL It was con- 
structed of quercus pedunculata, or white oak, and was prob- 
ably cut from one of the forests at that time so numerous 
in England, and judging from the great width of the planks 
must have been centuries in growing. 

Rotherhithe is one of the suburbs of London adjoining 
Deptford on the south bank of the river Thames where the 



The Battle of Red Bank. 3 

tunnel runs under the river, and is about three miles east 
of the House of Parliament and two and a half miles in a 
southerly direction from St. Paul's Cathedral. It is famous 
for its dock yards and shipbuilding industry. 

When the Augusta was launched she was 1,386 tons bur- 
then, but when fully mounted and manned she was about 
1,450 tons. She carried sixty-four guns arranged as below : 
26 24-pounders on her lower deck. 
2^ i8-pounders on her upper deck. 
10 9-pounders on her quarter deck. 
2 9-pounders on her forecastle. 

The total weight of a broadside from all her guns was 
1,200 pounds. She was one of the finest vessels in the EngHsh 
Navy and was commanded by Captain Francis Reynolds, 
who afterwards became the Earl of Ducie. She was one of 
the fleet under Admiral Richard Howe, who was a brother 
of Sir William Howe, who commanded the British soldiers 
then fighting the Continental Army. 

To have a correct idea of the part taken by the Augusta 
in the attack on Fort Mercer and Fort Mifflin and of the 
American naval and military defense of the Delaware River 
below Philadelphia, we must remember -that the American 
Army, under General Washington, after the battle of the 
Brandywine, September 11, 1777, returned to Philadelphia 
and, being closely pursued by the British Army, under Sir 
William Howe, fell back beyond the Schuylkill River, leav- 
ing Philadelphia in the occupation of the British. But al- 



4 The BATTI.E OF Red Bank. 

though the British held Philadelphia they did not control 
the Delaware River, and were unable to receive supplies 
for their army by water, as their ships could not safely pass 
the obstructions which had been placed in the river. 

Benjamin Franklin had devised an ingenious plan of de- 
fense of the Delaware River which consisted of two chevaux 
de frise, the lower one in the main ship channel, between 
Billings Island and Billingsport, on the New Jersey shore, 
about six miles below League Island, and the upper one above 
Fort Mifflin and one mile below League Island. 

In Allen's "Battles of the British Navy" is a concise de- 
scription of how they are made : 

"The chevaux de frise was formed of large square pieces 
of timber. Two long pieces at a proper parallel distance 
from each other formed the horizontal base, which rested on 
the bed of the river. Over these were placed two other 
beams of similar size, sharpened and pointed with iron, ris- 
ing from toward the end of the horizontal base at such an 
angle that a vessel striking upon them would almost inevit- 
ably be pierced. The points did not appear above water and 
the elevation was such as to offer the greatest resistance. 
The four main pieces were united by many transversed ones 
and the whole so well contrived that its own weight and the 
ballast attached to it effectually prevented it being moved 
from its position or turned over." 

The chevaux de frise were placed in position by Commo- 
dore Hazelwood, of the Pennsylvania navy. Before the 
British ships could sail up the river to supply their troops 



The Batti^e of Red Bank. 5 

with provisions these chevaux de frise had to be removed 
or gotten rid of. 

Commodore Hazelwood's fleet consisted of about twenty- 
vessels of all kinds, schooners, sloops, galleys, half-galleys, 
floating batteries and fourteen old vessels loaded with tar 
barrels and fitted up as fire ships, to aid in the defense of 
the river; armed with about one hundred cannon. 

Admiral Howe's fleet consisted of about eight or nine 
war vessels and several transports. His vessels were fully- 
manned and he had two hundred and eighty-five guns on 
his war vessels alone. On the two vessels of his fleet which 
were stranded he had more officers and men than Commo- 
dore Hazelwood had in his entire fleet. 

On October 20, 1777, under the direction of Captain 
Hamond, five British war vessels contrived to get through 
the lower chevaux de frise and sailed up the river. These 
vessels were the Augusta, sixty-four guns, Capt. Francis 
Reynolds ; the Roebuck, forty-four guns, Capt. A. S. Hamond ; 
the Liverpool, twenty-eight guns, Capt. Henry Bellew ; the 
Pearl, thirty-two guns, Capt. Thomas Wilkinson, and the 
Merlin, a sloop-of-war, sixteen guns, Commander Samuel 
Reeve. These warships were to force the upper passage, 
silence Fort Mercer, at Red Bank, and Fort Mifflin, on the 
Pennsylvania side, and open navigation on the Delaware 
River to Philadelphia. 

In his report dated October 25, 1777, as printed in the 
London Chronicle, December 2, 1777, Admiral Howe admitted 



6 The Battle of Red Bank. 

the failure of his plans : "The wind continuing from the 
northward several successive days, the Vigilant could not 
proceed according to her destination. The Augusta, Roe- 
buck, Liverpool and the Pearl were nevertheless ordered 
above the first line of chevaux de frise, on the 22nd, to be in 
readiness for such service as they could render when the re- 
doubt (Fort Mercer) should be attacked, and Captain Rey- 
nolds (of the Augusta), being the senior officer, succeeded 
to the command of the advanced squadron. 

"The attack of the redoubt (Fort Mercer) being observed 
to take place the evening of the 22d, just before the close 
of day, Captain Reynolds (on the Augusta) immediately 
slipped anchor and advanced with the squadron (to which 
the Merlin had been joined) as fast as he was able with the 
flood to second the attempt of the troops which were seen 
to be very warmly engaged; the change in the natural course 
of the river caused by the obstructions appearing to have 
altered the channel, the Augusta and Merlin unfortunately 
grounded some distance below the second line of chevaux de 
frise, and the fresh northerly wind, which then prevailed, 
greatly checking the rising of the tide, they could not be 
got afloat on the subsequent flood. 

"The diversion was endeavored to be continued by the 
frigates, at which the fire from the enemy's gallies was 
chiefly pointed for some time. But as the night advanced, 
the Hessian detachment having been repulsed, the firing 
ceased." 



The Battlk of Red Bank. 7 

The Battle of Red Bank on the Delaware, in which Col. 
Christopher Green, with four hundred Rhode Island troops, 
successfully withstood an attack of twenty-five hundred Hes- 
sians, was one of the most glorious victories for our side 
during the Revolutionary War. 

The capture of Fort Mercer was assigned to Count Carl 
Emil Kurt von Donop, one of the most distinguished Hessian 
officers, who had taken an active part with his regiment in 
the Battle of Germantown, and who was eager for an oppor- 
tunity to display his ability as a leader. General Howe re- 
garded him as an intelligent and bold soldier, and assigned 
him the three Grenadier battalions of Van Minnegerode, 
Von Linsingen and Von Lengerke; Mirbach's regiment, a 
dozen cavalrymen, some artillery and two English howitzers. 

Donop recognized the heavy task entrusted him and asked 
in vain for more artillery, but Howe said that if Donop could 
not take the fort the British would. Donop was angry at 
this reply and sent back word that the Germans had courage 
to do anything, and to his associates he said, "Either that 
will be Fort Donop or I shall be dead." 

Donop placed eight guns and two howitzers on the 
right and in support of Minnegerode's battalion and the 
Light Infantry; Von Mirbach's regiment in the center; Von 
Linsingen's battalion on the left; Von Lengerke's battalion 
and some Yagers on the Delaware to guard against a land- 
ing and to protect his rear. Before each battalion there 
were sappers and a hundred men carrying hastily gathered 
fascines, led by a captain. 



8 The Battle of Red Bank. 

Donop at 4 P. M. sent a summons to surrender with a 
threat of no quarter if it was refused, and received a reply 
that the fort would be held to the last man. As the report 
was that very few men were seen in the fort, Donop decided 
to attack at once, and made a stirring address, to which the 
men replied "We'll change the name from Fort Red Bank 
to Fort Donop," and put himself with his officers, sword in 
hand, at the head. 

They charged gallantly, but soon found their road broken 
by deep ditches and could only move singly; they were met 
with a sharp fire in front and flank from a covered battery 
and from two vessels in the river. Still the troops pressed 
on. Von Minnegerode had taken the outlying redoubt by 
storm; the Americans at first gave way, but soon stood fast, 
and before their fire Donop and Minnegerode and many other 
officers fell, casting dismay on their men. 

Col. Von Linsingen succeeded to the command and did 
all he could to restore order, but the Hessians fell back in 
disorder. Dead and wounded were abandoned, and Von Lin- 
singen brought the little remnant off under cover of the 
night, and on the next afternoon reached Philadelphia. 

The Hessians admit their loss to have been six hundred 
and fifty killed, wounded and missing. 

The loss in the garrison bore no proportion to this. One 
captain, five sergeants, one fifer and seven privates were 
killed. One captain was taken prisoner and one ensign, two 
sergeants and twenty privates were wounded. All honor to 
Col. Christopher Green and his four hundred brave men ! 



The Battle oe Red Bank. 9 

The Augusta grounded near the mouth of Woodbury 
Creek, about two-thirds of a mile below in a southwesterly- 
direction, according to a plan of engagement submitted by 
Commodore Hazelwood ; the Merlin near the mouth of Man- 
tua Creek (then called Mud Creek and by others Manto 
Creek), and the Roebuck ran aground during the night fur- 
ther down the river, but she was floated next day. 

"October 23. The wind was northerly and fresh and 
cold," according to the diary of Capt. John Montressor, Chief 
Engineer of the British Army in America. This wind hin- 
dered the British in sailing up the river and favored the 
Americans in their movements. 

Early on the morning on the 23d, the American galleys 
and floating batteries went down the river and kept up a 
constant fire on the Augusta, and hot shots were fired from 
Fort Mifflin, one of which was thought to have set it on fire. 
But this is not definitely known. Admiral Howe, in his re- 
port, states that it may have been caused by hot wads from 
their own guns. 

J. Fennimore Cooper, in his "History of the Navy of the 
United States," states that the Augusta had been lightened 
previously to the going on this service and partially fitted as 
a floating battery, and that fire originated in some pressed hay 
which had been secured to her quarters to make her shot- 
proof. This is the most plausible reason, and as the fire 
spread so fast that the sailors could not control it, v/ould 
account for the orders to lower the boats and carry her crew 



lo The Battle of Red Bank. 

to the other vessels in the fleet. Before this had been fully 
accomplished, the magazine exploded and the Augusta was 
destroyed. 

In the communication from the British Admiralty it was 
stated that tio lives were lost on the Augusta, but Lord Howe 
admits the loss of a second lieutenant, the chaplain and a 
few men. Capt. John Montressor, who was an eye witness, 
says, "Before the explosion of the Augusta's powder maga- 
zine, many of the seamen jumped overboard, apprehending 
it. Some were taken up by our ships' boats, but the chap- 
lain and sixty-four men perished in the waters." 

When the Augusta blew up, the other British war vessels 
fled down the river, and to save the Merlin from falling into 
our hands, orders were given to fire her and she was burned 
to the water's edge on the mud bank on which she had 
grounded. 

From Colonel Bradford's report to President Wharton, 
of Pennsylvania, we glean these facts : 

"The firing of the first gun from the Hessian battery upon 
Fort Mercer was the signal for the British vessels to ap- 
proach and attack Fort Mifilin. They were kept at bay by 
the American galleys and floating batteries. These galleys 
did good execution, not only upon the British vessels, but 
upon the Hessians at Red Bank. The British fleet deferred 
its attack on Fort Mifflin until the next morning, and dropped 
down the river. 

"The next day, the 23d, the Augusta, the Roebuck, two 
frigates and the Merlin came up as near as they dare to 



The Battle of Red Bank. ii 

the upper chevaux de frise, when a most furious engagement 
ensued between the galleys and the floating batteries with the 
enemy's ships; the fire was so incessant that by all accounts 
the elements seemed to be in flames. About 12 o'clock the 
Augusta blew up, whether by accident or from our shot is 
unknown, having taken fire some time before. Here pre- 
sented a glorious sight before she blew up, she laying broad- 
side too aground and the flames coming through every port 
she had. The action still continued with the other ships, 
and at three o'clock the Merlin took fire and blew up, also 
being aground, and then the fire soon ceased. Thus ended 
two glorious days." 

This was the only engagement the frigate Augusta had 
ever been in, so the British Naval authorities admit. 

From October 23, 1777, when she was sunk lower on Red 
Bank shoal by the force of the explosion, until 1869, ninety- 
two years, the Augusta, or all that was left of this fine man- 
of-war, remained on that shoal. She was a menace to navi- 
gation, lying lengthwise across the edge of the channel. 

In 1869 she was raised by the American Dredging Com- 
pany. The wreck was nearly covered by sand and mud which 
had been carried down the river and lodged against her, and 
it was necessary to dredge her out before she could be raised. 
Pontoons were then used to float her, and when the water 
was pumped out of her, and her hulk made navigable she 
was towed up the river to Gloucester City and exhibited. 
This venture not proving profitable she was allowed to go to 
pieces on the river bank. 



12 The Battle of Red Bank. 

It is a strange coincidence that the Augusta was built in 
Rotherhithe, adjoining Deptford, in England, and the first 
water she sailed in was the Thames River along old Dept- 
ford, England, and when she ended her course it was in the 
waters of the Delaware, in old Deptford, New Jersey. That 
which is seemingly destroj^ed does not necessarily pass out 
of existence. When the Augusta blew up, in 1777, it was ap- 
parently the end of her, but after one hundred and thirty- 
two years lapse of time her timbers were recovered and now 
furnish a lasting memorial of one of the most glorious vic- 
tories gained by the American forces in the Revolutionary 
War. 




Slnnlckson Chew & Sons Co. 
Printers, Camden, N. J. 



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